194 
JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
science was not thought of; but in the year 1863, mainly through 
the exertions of Dr. James Hunt, the Anthropological Society of 
London was founded, and in a very short time similar societies 
were started in almost every capital of Europe. Among these, the 
Societies of London and Paris doubtless occupy the foremost places. 
Our Society has done much good work, not only by the issue of its 
own Transactions in various forms, but by publishing translations 
of important works by foreign writers. The Quarterly Journal 
has now taken the place of the various Memoirs, Reviews, and 
other publications which have been commenced at various times, 
and after a while discontinued. 
The publication of two books, issued, T believe, almost 
simultaneously during the last few months, ought to give an 
impetus to this important study. I refer to translations of the 
well-known book of Topinard, the curator of the Museum of the 
Anthropological Society of Paris, entitled Anthroiiology, and The 
Human Species of Professor Quatrefages, both very valuable books, 
and both, from the low prices at which they can be bought, 
accessible to all. 
As would be supposed, the two authors take different sides. 
Quatrefages is a strong Monogamist, but at the same time is a 
strong believer in the great antiquity of the human race. On the 
other hand, Topinard contends earnestly for the doctrine of evolu- 
tion (that great theory which solves so many difficulties), and thus 
in fact gets rid of the old question between monogenism and poly- 
genism. 
Let me strongly recommend the perusal of these two works to 
my hearers. They are both of high scientific value, and written 
with great ability. Topinard is more technical, but both are very 
readable. Besides these volumes, among the most recent contri- 
butions to the history of the race, I may mention the new edition 
of Keller's Lake Dwellings, in which is incorporated all the recent 
discoveries of the author, including the substance of his seventh 
report, and an account of every lake settlement examined up to the 
time of publication. Although the Swiss lake dwellings were the 
first to be described, and have thus acquired importance, it must 
be remembered that remains of similar habitations have been met 
with in different parts of the world, even, as General Lane Fox has 
pointed out, in the heart of London, in the peaty marsh where 
Finsbury now stands, and where in Roman-British times some out- 
